TNAG-2726-FCO40-3932-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-on-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 78

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131446

MDLIAN 4328

OF THE GOVERNOR HAD PLUNGED TO ITS LOWEST POINT SINCE MID- DECEMBER. HIS RATING ON A SCALE OF 100 POINTS PLUNGED BY 6 POINTS TO 55.28. REPORTS NOTED THAT THE SURVEY FOUND THAT ONLY 26.8 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS SUPPORTED THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE WHILE THOSE AGAINST WAS 18.6 PERCENT, REDUCING THE MARGIN OF SUPPORT BY 8.2 PERCENT THE NARROWEST EVER REGISTERED. THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESMAN, MIKE HANSON, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR STILL ENJOYED A HIGH RATE OF POPULARITY. RESEARCHER ROBERT CHUNG SAID THE RESULTS GAVE A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEGOTIATIONS AND COMPROMISE.

35. PAPERS (31.3) NOTED THAT A SURVEY OF 396 MANUFACTURERS OF THE FEDERATION OF HK INDUSTRIES HAD FOUND THAT 76 PERCENT WANTED THE GOVERNOR TO DEFER TABLING THE BILL, WHILE 20 PERCENT SAID IT SHOULD NOT. FEDERATION CHAIRMAN STEPHEN CHEONG SAID 58.84 PERCENT WANTED IT DELAYED UNTIL THERE WAS AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN AND 83 PERCENT CONSIDER THE GAZETTAL HAD CONSTITUTED AN OBSTACLE TO THE TALKS.

FORD

YYYY

MAIN

.HK POLICY

65

DISTRIBUTION

71

NTCD

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO) CAOFF //MISS NEVILLE-JONES

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PS NO 10.

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